Beyond Live Streaming and Isolation - The Call for Laypeople in the Age of COVID-19.
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Beyond Live Streaming and Isolation
The Call for Laypeople in the Age of Covid-19
I don’t know about you but my corner of the internet is abuzz with talking about the importance of live streaming, prerecording video services, and capitalizing on social media.
Getting on board with Social Distancing
As Christians we have not just a worldview that says that death is not the end for us but we also have a legacy and heritage of caring for people in the midst of deadly and contagious diseases. In addition, we’re familiar with scriptural commands like “Let us not neglect meeting together as some are in the habit of doing.” These ideas may tempt up to throw caution to the wind.
The truth is, social distancing is one way that we can do our part to help ensure that necessary healthcare is available to the vulnerable – even if it means sacrificing the theologically good and important notion of the physical gathering. We can care and serve our neighbors by limiting our gatherings and being thoughtful when we do get together.
As a small groups pastor, I’m well aware of the many scripture passages that encourage and challenge us to meet together regularly and pursue Christian Community. Yet there are others like Deuteronomy 22:8 that set a precedent for precaution when it comes to how our lives might affect our neighbors:
“When you build a new house, you must build a railing around the edge of its flat roof. That way you will not be considered guilty of murder if someone falls from the roof.
Some even explicitly support the quarantining of those who might have infectious diseases by keeping them away from the camp. Like Leviticus 13:46
As long as the serious disease lasts, they will be ceremonially unclean. They must live in isolation in their place outside the camp.
And 1 Corinthians 10:24 puts it simply:
Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
Beyond Isolation and Screen Time
Those that recognize that Jesus came in the flesh (rather than in the appearance of flesh) and that we are embodied souls (rather than primarily spiritual beings) should appropriately grieve over the loss of our physical weekly large group gathering.
As church leaders seek to help the church thrive during this time they are often tempted to be the answer. How do we offer the best live streaming service in town? How do we keep people engaged and connected? What valuable programming can we offer now?
A Better Opportunity
In the beginning of Acts chapter 8, a “great persecution” breaks out against the Church in Jerusalem and all except the Apostles are scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Preconversion Paul “began to destroy the church. Going from house to house” and dragging off men and women and putting them in prison. Can you imagine how the apostles must’ve been feeling? What’s the proper response? How do we shepherd people when we can’t bring them together? How do we equip and empower and disciple and spiritually nourish these young believers? Live streaming certainly wasn’t an option!
But something different happened.
“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” (Acts 8:4).
Before Jesus ascended, he told His followers that the Holy Spirit would come and “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Up until this point, the church hadn’t left the safety of Jerusalem. It was the persecution that propelled them to be faithful to Christ’s plan. At the same time, it wasn’t a movement of church leadership but rather a movement of lay people. By the end of Acts 9, Luke writes about “The Church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria” (such a phrase hadn’t existed until that time) and we’re told that the Church “enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.”
What if we shift our focus from how we’re going to keep our churches together – to how we’re going to support each other when we’re apart?
Incarnational Ministry and Small Groups
Small groups and house churches were the bread and butter of the early church.
Early on the book of Acts believers are meeting together in homes as they read the teachings of the apostles, fellowship, and worship together.
When Paul starts new missionary endeavors he often finds a house to stay in and uses that house (Like Jason in Acts 17 or Aquila and Priscilla or Titius in Acts 18) to gather believers and converts to.
When new families convert – ones with larger homes (Like Lydia in Acts 16) would often begin to gather the church in the area together for prayer and scripture reading.
The word “Christian” itself was first attributed to a house church in Antioch.
The phrase “incarnational” means roughly, “in the flesh” and recognizes that the reason Jesus came “in the flesh” is because our physical nature is at the core of who we are and so the most effective forms of ministry are generally those which acknowledge the value of face to face relationships. In other words, most of the serious life change that we experience as Christians comes from our relationships with others (not books, not watching videos, not consuming one-way content, not blogs, not conferences, but relationships).
I’m not saying that we break bread “from house to house” like we see in Acts 2:46. As we move into the weeks and months ahead where gatherings of even 10 or more are potentially hazardous for our neighbors and cities – we must do two things:
Be diligent in our precautionary measures for the sake of our neighbors.
Recognize the value and significance that Christians have as they remain scattered throughout our neighborhoods.
How do we do this?
It will no doubt look different for each of us. Wash hands. Practice social distancing. Cough into your elbow. Don’t touch your face. Stay home if you’re sick or have preexisting conditions that place you in the “vulnerable” category. Do that but also find creative ways to meet online (my small group uses Zoom to meet at 9:30PM once our kids are asleep). Consider inviting people to your home to watch the Live Stream on Sunday morning. Get together in even smaller groups for fellowship, and find ways to serve your community as we navigate a new (albeit temporary) era for the American Church. And one more thing…
Lastly, We Need Hope
Our society is fearful right now. Those who have wealth are finding that it doesn’t bring much comfort. Others are incredibly concerned about losing their jobs (if they haven’t already lost them). Sports and large events that entertain and distract us are no longer an option. We’re not used to empty shelves and such a lack of available resources. And death is on all our minds. In other words, we’ve caught a glimpse of how fragile and precious life is.
Solomon thought such circumstances brought wisdom:
Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies--so the living should take this to heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:2)
At a time like this – our neighbors are thinking of both immediate and eternal things. Our thoughts are on survival but also on meaning and purpose. May 1 Peter 3:15 be the rally cry of the “scattered” church during this time.
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
Remember, some of our best ministry has taken place during times when larger gatherings weren’t possible. How is God calling you to serve and care for others during this time?